Integration of ICT into modern education: Still a long road to go.

Abstract

This explorative article studies the available research on the various aspects that influence the success or failure of the integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in modern education. ICT cannot be seen as an objective entity. Instead, it needs to be seen in the context of the society in which we now live. Using a set of characteristics developed by Conole & Dyke, which characterizes ICT and education differently, an attempt has been made to organise the available data. Findings include the influence of access to ICT; the communicative worth of ICT and its possible role in developing cultural awareness in children; the influence of the teacher, which appears to be very significant; and the non-linearity that can be accessed with the use of ICT. This article will conclude by introducing a generic model which can be used to combine research results in order to find a good combination of the different factors.